Compressor

ABSTRACT

Compressor including a hermetic container forming an outside appearance, and having an inside space, a compression part inside of the hermetic container, for drawing, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant, a driving part for driving the compression part, two pipes on an outside wall of the hermetic compressor in communication with an inside of the hermetic container, having functions exchangeable with each other according to design conditions of a heat exchange cycle, and a suction muffler inside of the hermetic container for discharging the refrigerant toward the compressor, and attenuating noise of refrigerant drawn from a pipe which functions as a suction pipe that guides the refrigerant to an inside of the hermetic container of the two pipes, thereby permitting easy change of functions of the pipes in the hermetic container.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos.P2003-056200, and P2003-062946, both filed on Aug. 13, 2003, which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compressors for compressing a workingfluid such as refrigerant to a required pressure, and more particularly,to a compressor having pipes of which functions are interchangeable witheasy.

2. Background of the Related Art

In general, in the compressor, for compressing the working fluid, suchas gas or refrigerant, to a required pressure, and discharging acompressed working fluid, there are turbo type compressors, such as theaxial compressors, and the centrifugal compressors, and displacementtype compressors, such as the rotating type compressors, and thereciprocating type compressors.

Of the compressors, the reciprocating type compressor compresses gas orrefrigerant drawn into a cylinder by reciprocating movement of a pistonin the cylinder. A related art reciprocating compressor (hereaftercalled as a compressor) is provided with a hermetic container having anupper container, and a lower container, a compression part in thehermetic container for compressing the refrigerant, and a driving partfor driving the compression part.

The compression part is provided with a compression chamber for drawing,and compressing and discharging the refrigerant, and a suction mufflerfor attenuating noise of refrigerant being drawn into the compressionchamber, and the hermetic container has a suction pipe for guiding therefrigerant from an outside of the hermetic compressor to the suctionmuffler, a discharge pipe for guiding the refrigerant from thecompression chamber to an outside of the hermetic container, a processpipe for supplying oil and the like into the compressor, and a terminalfitting part for fitting a power supply device.

However, in general, if it is intended to interchange functions of thepipes according to design conditions of the heat exchanger cycle, sincethe interchange is impossible, development of a compressor havinginterchangeable functions is required.

The related art compressor has a space for the terminal fitting part,such that connection of a terminal of the power supplying deviceprovided on an inside wall of the hermetic container is difficult.

The hermetic container fabricated of a flat panel, that forms an outsideshape of the compressor, and holds various components of the compressortherein, is weak such that the hermetic container can not protect thevarious components from an external impact adequately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a compressor thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitationsand disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compressor whichenables easy change of functions of pipes on a hermetic container.

Other object of the present invention is to provide a compressor whichenables easy fitting of components of the compressor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compressor astrength of a hermetic container of which is reinforced, for holdingcomponents of the compressor.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following ormay be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and otheradvantages of the invention will be realized and attained by thestructure particularly pointed out in the written description and claimshereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein, the compressor includes a hermetic container forming an outsideappearance, and having an inside space, a compression part inside of thehermetic container, for drawing, compressing, and discharging arefrigerant, a driving part for driving the compression part, two pipeson an outside wall of the hermetic compressor in communication with aninside of the hermetic container, having functions exchangeable witheach other according to design conditions of a heat exchange cycle, anda suction muffler inside of the hermetic container for discharging therefrigerant toward the compressor, and attenuating noise of refrigerantdrawn from a pipe which functions as a suction pipe that guides therefrigerant to an inside of the hermetic container of the two pipes.

The suction muffler has a suction hole opposite to a pipe that functionsas the suction pipe.

The two pipes are fitted between a front and opposite sides of thehermetic container, respectively, and the suction muffler is mounted ona front part of an inside of the hermetic container between the twopipes.

The compressor further includes a third pipe in communication with aninside of the hermetic compressor.

Among the three pipes, one of two pipes excluding a pipe opposite to thesuction hole of the suction muffler is used as a discharge pipe forguiding compressed refrigerant to an outside of the hermetic container.

The hermetic container includes a terminal fitting part for fitting apower supply device thereto for supplying power to an inside of thehermetic container.

The power supply device is fitted to an inside wall of the hermeticcontainer having the terminal fitting part formed thereon.

The terminal fitting part is formed at a position having a largest spacebetween the inside wall of the hermetic container and components held inan inside space.

The hermetic container includes a terminal fitting part formed to fitthe power supply device for supplying power to an inside of the hermeticcontainer.

The power supply device is fitted to an inside wall of the hermeticcontainer having the terminal fitting part formed thereon.

The terminal fitting part is formed one of opposite sides of thehermetic container.

The hermetic container includes a lower case, and an upper case joinedto a top of the lower case.

The upper case has a curved surface, and it is preferable that the uppercase has a curved surface sloped downwardly from one side to the otherside such that the one side is higher than the other side.

The hermetic container includes recesses each recessed into an inside ofa surface of the case.

The recesses are provided in an upper part of the hermetic container asat least one stopper for restricting shaking of an inside componentswithin a predetermined range.

The stoppers are formed along a periphery of an upper surface of thehermetic container at two or more than places, and preferably atopposite sides of a vibration direction of the inside component.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and thefollowing detailed description of the present invention are exemplaryand explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of theinvention claimed.

BRIEF DESCRITPION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description function to explain the principle of theinvention.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a compressor in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention having an upper caseremoved therefrom;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view showing a suction muffler in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a compressor in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention having an upper caseremoved therefrom, showing a state in which functions of pipe areexchanged;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a suction muffler provided to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an upper caseprovided to a compressor of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of the upper case in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a graph showing a natural frequency of a compressorhaving a hermetic container with the upper case in FIG. 5 providedthereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In describing the embodiments of the present invention, sameparts will be given the same names and reference symbols, and repetitivedescription of which will be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a compressor in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention having an upper caseremoved therefrom, FIG. 2 illustrates a front view showing a suctionmuffler in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a compressor inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention havingan upper case removed therefrom, showing a state in which functions ofpipe are exchanged, and FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a suctionmuffler provided to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the compressor includes a hermetic containerhaving a lower case 30 and an upper case (not shown) which forms anoutside appearance, and various components held inside of the hermeticcontainer.

There are mounting plates 32 on an underside of the lower case 30 forfastening the compressor. The lower case 30 has a terminal fitting part33 at one side of the lower case 30, particularly, at a left side of thelower case 30 in FIG. 2, for supplying power to the compressor.

There is an inside connector 33 a on an inside wall of the lower case 30opposite to the terminal fitting part 33. A cable is connected to theinside connector 33 a for supplying power to an inside of thecompressor. In the embodiment, though the terminal fitting part 33 isfitted to a left outside wall of the lower case 30, the terminal fittingpart 33 may be fitted to a right outside wall of the lower case 30.

For making inside and outside of the hermetic container incommunication, there are at least two pipes 34, and 36 passed throughthe lower case 30. One of pipes 34, and 36 is called as a first pipe 34,and the other pipe is called as a second pipe 36.

The first pipe 34 and the second pipe 36 are configured to enableexchange of functions according to design conditions of heat exchangecycle, i.e., positions of an evaporator and a condenser, and one ofwhich functions as a suction pipe for guiding refrigerant into an insideof the hermetic container.

It is preferable that the hermetic container includes a third pipe 38 inaddition to the first pipe 34 and the second pipe 36. Because,basically, in addition to a suction pipe for guiding the refrigerantinto the hermetic container, and a discharge pipe for guiding compressedrefrigerant to an outside of the hermetic container, it is preferablethat the compressor has a process pipe for filling oil into thecompressor.

In more detail, one of the two pipes excluding the pipe functioning asthe suction pipe functions as a discharge pipe, and the other pipefunctions as the process pipe.

If it is assumed that a part the terminal fitting part 33 is providedthereto is a side of the lower case 30, the first pipe 34 and the secondpipe 34 pass a part between front and opposite sides of the lower case30. The third pipe 38 passes an opposite side of a side the terminalfitting part 33 is provided thereto.

In the embodiment, one of the first pipe 34 and the second pipe 36functions as the suction pipe according to design conditions of the heatexchange cycle, and the other one functions as the process pipe. Thatis, if the first pipe is used as a suction pipe, the second pipe is usedas the process pipe, and vice versa. The third pipe 38 performs afunction of the discharge pipe.

There is a frame 40 inside of the lower case 30 for fitting variouscomponents of a compression part for drawing, compressing, and dischargerefrigerant, and a driving part for driving the compression part.

The driving part includes a motor part having a stator 42 fixed to anunderside of the frame 40, and a rotor 43 provided inside of the stator42. There is a crankshaft 45 press fit at a center of the rotor 43passed through the frame 40, for rotating by electromagnetic actionbetween the rotor 43 and the stator 42, together with the rotor 43.

There is a crank pin 46 on the crankshaft 45 eccentric from a rotationaxis of the crankshaft 45. The crank pin 46 has other end connected to aconnecting rod 48 having one end connected to a piston 50. Theconnecting rod 48 converts rotation of the crankshaft 45 into a linearreciprocating movement of the piston 50.

The piston 50 is inside of a cylinder 52 fixed to one side of top of theframe 40, forms a compression chamber for compressing the refrigerant,and functions for compressing the refrigerant. That is, the piston 50reciprocates inside of the cylinder linearly, to compress therefrigerant.

There is a valve assembly 54 at one side of the compression chamber ofthe cylinder 52. The valve assembly 54 has head cover 58 fabricated asone unit therewith, for isolating the refrigerant being drawn into thecompression chamber from the refrigerant being discharged from thecompression chamber.

The valve assembly 54 having the head cover 58 fabricated as one unittherewith isolates the refrigerant being drawn into the compressionchamber from the refrigerant being discharged from the compressionchamber.

In the meantime, there is a suction muffler 60 at one side the headcover 58. The suction muffler 60, provided for attenuating noise of therefrigerant drawn into the compression chamber from an outside of thehermetic container, has a suction hole 62 for receiving the refrigerantfrom an outside of the suction muffler 60.

In more detail, the suction muffler 60 has a suction hole 62 projectedoutwardly from one side, and a discharge hole 63 at a top thereofconnected to the head cover 58 for discharging the refrigerant towardthe compression chamber.

In the embodiment, the suction hole 62 of the suction muffler isconnected to a pipe functioning as the suction pipe of the first pipe 34and the second pipe 36 provided to the hermetic container. That is, inthe compressor shown in FIG. 1, the first pipe is connected to thesuction hole of the suction muffler, such that the first pipe functionsas the suction pipe, and in the compressor shown in FIG. 3, the secondpipe is connected to the suction hole of the suction muffler, such thatthe second pipe functions as the suction pipe.

For this, the suction muffler 60 is mounted inside of the lower case 30,particularly, opposite to a position between the first pipe 34 and thesecond pipe. Since the suction muffler 60 is mounted close to thecylinder 52, the cylinder 52 is also mounted inside of the lower casebetween the first pipe 34 and the second pipe.

For using the first pipe 34 or the second pipe 36 as the suction pipe 36according to design conditions of the heat exchange cycle, the suctionmuffler 60 has a suction hole 62 at a left side or right side when thedrawing is seen from above. Of course, the suction muffler 60 mayexchange functions of the pipes by changing connection between thesuction hole and the pipes by using flexible connection pipes (notshown) provided separately without changing a position of the suctionhole.

In more detail, referring to FIG. 1, in a case it is required that thefirst pipe is used as the suction pipe according to design conditions ofthe heat exchange cycle, the suction hole 62 a of the suction muffler isextended to a left as shown in FIG. 2, to opposite to an inside end ofthe first pipe. As shown in FIG. 3, in a case it is required that secondpipe is used as the suction pipe according to design conditions of theheat exchange cycle, as shown in FIG. 4, the suction hole 62 b of thesuction muffler is extended to a right, to opposite to an inside end ofthe second pipe.

Next, there is a discharge muffler 65 at the other side of the headcover 58 for attenuating noise of the discharged refrigerant. That is,the discharge muffler 65 serves to remove noise and pulsation of theworking fluid compressed at the compression chamber. The dischargemuffler 65 is made to be in communication with a pipe that serves as adischarge pipe by a loop pipe 67. In the embodiment, the dischargemuffler is in communication with the third pipe 38.

The loop pipe 67 connected between the discharge muffler 65 and thethird pipe 38 is fabricated by bending a length of pipe many times, forattenuating pulsation and noise of the refrigerant compressed at thecompression chamber and discharged therefrom.

Thus, in the one embodiment of the present invention, though functionsof the pipes 34, 36, and 38 connected to the lower case 30 areconfigured to be interchangeable, even if functions of the pipes arechanged, there is no design change of configuration except the suctionmuffler 60.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the suctionmuffler is provided between the first pipe and the second pipe, aninside space for mounting the power supply device including the insideconnector 33 a on the terminal fitting part becomes greater, relatively.

Because a space between the lower case 30 and the suction muffler is thesmallest as the suction muffler 60 is arranged projected the outer mostamong components of the compressor for connected to the first pipe orthe second pipe 36.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the hermetic container has entiresurface formed as curved surface. As described, the hermetic containerhas the upper case and the lower case, and FIG. 5 or 6 illustrates apreferred embodiment of the upper case of the hermetic container.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper case 40 is provided to a top ofthe lower case 30, such that the upper case 40 and the lower case 30form an upper half and a lower half of the hermetic container 20, toform the hermetic container with a curved surface in overall, to have astructure of a reinforced strength.

The upper case 70 has a side surface part 71 and an upper surface part73. The side surface part 71 and the upper surface part 73 are curvedrespectively. A curvature of the upper surface part 73 is relativelygreater than the side surface part 71.

The upper surface part 73 is a curved surface sloped downward from aleft side to a right side, slightly. Such a curved surface of the uppersurface part 73 increases strength of the part, relatively.

The upper surface part 73 at a relatively high part of the upper case 70that forms an upper outside appearance of the compressor has arelatively great strength by a supporting force of the side surface part71, and can endure relatively high external force owing to the curvedsurface of the upper surface part 73, thereby protect the insidecomponents, because the curved surface of the upper surface part 73spreads an external impact. This is similar to a case of a tunnel ofwhich upper part is curved.

An extent of strength increase owing to the curved surface 73 of theupper case 70 is illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, a solid line denotes a natural frequency of a casethe upper case 70 described above is applied to the compressor, and thedashed line denotes a case the upper case of the related art is appliedto the compressor.

That is, it can be noted that a case the upper case 70 of the presentinvention is applied to the compressor has a relatively high naturalfrequency, in a range approx. 1.3 times of the related art,substantially.

The upper case 70 has a plurality of recesses 75 into an inside of thecase when seen from an outside of the upper case 70, and projected fromthe upper case 70 when seen from an inside of the upper case 70. Therecesses 75 not only functions to increase strength of the hermeticcontainer, but also functions as a stopper that prevents the insidecomponents from shaking excessively, to minimize shaking of the insidecomponents.

It is preferable that the recesses are formed at a part the side surfacepart 71 and the upper surface part 73 of the upper case meet. Though theembodiment illustrates three recesses 75, a number of the recesses 75are not necessarily 3, but it is preferable that at least two of therecesses 75 are formed at opposite positions according to designconditions of the inside components. For an example, since a directionof vibration of the frame can be the same with the reciprocatingdirection of the piston 50, it is preferable that the recesses 75 areformed at opposite ends of the reciprocating direction of the piston.

The operation of the compressor of the present invention will bedescribed, in detail.

In the compressor shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant is drawn from anoutside of the compressor through a first pipe 34, and flows to thesuction muffler 60 through the suction hole 62. Then, the refrigerant isintroduced into the compression chamber of the cylinder through thevalve assembly 54 in a state noise of the refrigerant is reduced at thesuction muffler 60.

The refrigerant compressed at the compression chamber by the piston isdischarged to an inside of the head cover 56, and flows into thedischarge muffler 65, and involved in attenuation of pulsation and noisethereof. The refrigerant flows from the discharge muffler 65 to thethird pipe 38 that functions as a discharge pipe through the loop pipe67, and is guided to an outside of the compressor.

In the meantime, the piston 50 coupled to the crankshaft 45, rotated byelectromagnetic interaction between the rotor 43 and the stator 42 ofthe motor part, with the connecting rod 48 reciprocates linearly, andcompresses the refrigerant.

Next, in the compressor illustrated in FIG. 3, only the suction muffler60 is changed while other components are mounted the same with a stateillustrated in FIG. 1 without design change such the second pipe 36functions as the suction pipe, and the first pipe 34 functions as theprocess pipe.

In the present invention, since the inside connector 33 a is arranged ata position perpendicular to a position the cylinder 52 and an insidesurface of the lower case 30 are opposite, a worker can connect themotor part and the inside connector 33 a more easily, and since thethird pipe 38 is arranged at an opposite side of the inside connector 33a, the connection between the third pipe 38 and the loop pipe 67 is alsoeasy.

The overall curved shape of the hermetic container and the stoppers onthe upper case 70 reinforces strength and prevents damage of the insidecomponents.

The compressor of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, when the suction muffler is changed, functions of the pipes inthe lower case can be used selectively, thereby dispensing withrequirement for design change of the compressor in a heat exchangecycle.

Second, the larger space between a configuration for supplying power toan inside of the compressor and an inside configuration fastened to theframe permits an easy connection for supply power.

Third, the larger space between an inside wall of the hermetic containerand the frame at a part the discharge pipe is connected to the loop pipepermits an easy connection of the loop pipe to the discharge pipe.

Fourth, the overall curved surface of the hermetic container, and thestoppers in the upper case for minimizing shaking of the insidecomponents permits reinforcement of strength, and prevents damage of theinside components.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A compressor comprising: a hermetic container forming an outsideappearance, and having an inside space; a compression part inside of thehermetic container, for drawing, compressing, and discharging arefrigerant; a driving part for driving the compression part; two pipeson an outside wall of the hermetic compressor in communication with aninside of the hermetic container, having functions exchangeable witheach other according to design conditions of a heat exchange cycle; anda suction muffler inside of the hermetic container for discharging therefrigerant toward the compressor, and attenuating noise of refrigerantdrawn from a pipe which functions as a suction pipe that guides therefrigerant to an inside of the hermetic container of the two pipes. 2.The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction muffler has asuction hole opposite to a pipe that functions as the suction pipe. 3.The compressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two pipes are fittedbetween a front and opposite sides of the hermetic container,respectively, and the suction muffler is mounted on a front part of aninside of the hermetic container between the two pipes.
 4. Thecompressor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third pipe incommunication with an inside of the hermetic compressor.
 5. Thecompressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein, among the three pipes, one oftwo pipes excluding a pipe opposite to the suction hole of the suctionmuffler is used as a discharge pipe for guiding compressed refrigerantto an outside of the hermetic container.
 6. The compressor as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the hermetic container includes a terminal fitting partfor fitting a power supply device thereto for supplying power to aninside of the hermetic container.
 7. The compressor as claimed in claim6, wherein the power supply device is fitted to an inside wall of thehermetic container having the terminal fitting part formed thereon. 8.The compressor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the terminal fitting partis formed at a position having a largest space between the inside wallof the hermetic container and components held in an inside space.
 9. Thecompressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hermetic containerincludes a terminal fitting part formed to fit the power supply devicefor supplying power to an inside of the hermetic container.
 10. Thecompressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power supply device isfitted to an inside wall of the hermetic container having the terminalfitting part formed thereon.
 11. The compressor as claimed in claim 10,wherein the terminal fitting part is formed one of opposite sides of thehermetic container.
 12. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe hermetic container includes; a lower case, and an upper case joinedto a top of the lower case.
 13. The compressor as claimed in claim 12,wherein the upper case has a curved surface.
 14. The compressor asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the upper case has a curved surface slopeddownwardly from one side to the other side such that the one side ishigher than the other side.
 15. The compressor as claimed in claim 1,wherein the hermetic container includes recesses each recessed into aninside of a surface of the case.
 16. The compressor as claimed in claim15, wherein the recesses are provided in an upper part of the hermeticcontainer as at least one stopper for restricting shaking of an insidecomponents within a predetermined range.
 17. The compressor as claimedin claim 16, wherein the stoppers are formed along a periphery of anupper surface of the hermetic container at two or more than places. 18.The compressor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the stoppers are formedat opposite sides of a vibration direction of the inside component.